Stillwater Blockhouse hosts Independence Day encampment

Phillip Colarusso, commander of 13th Regiment of the Albany County Militia 4th Company, enjoys coffee Sunday during an encampment at the Stillwater Blockhouse on Route 4 in Stillwater.
J.S. CARRAS — THE RECORD

Mary Merrils of Mechanicville speaks with Phillip Colarusso, commander of 13th Regiment of the Albany County Militia 4th Company, enjoys coffee Sunday during an encampment at the Stillwater Blockhouse on Route 4 in Stillwater.
J.S. CARRAS — THE RECORD

STILLWATER >> There’s plenty of history along the Hudson River, and one local man from Stillwater knows it like the back of his hand.

Phillip Colarusso is a history buff with a passion for telling tales of the past. Through many years of research and learning, he’s compiled an impressive abundance of information regarding local history and its role in America’s greater story.

As leader of a re-enactment group that represents the 13th Regiment of the Albany County Militia 4th Company, he is able to see the area and its many historical landmarks through the eyes of an 18th-century militiaman.

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Thirteen years ago, Colarusso began recruiting for the group, and today it’s about 20 members strong. Like-minded folk, young and old, gather in antique fashioned garb to mirror the past and reveal to visitors what rich history lies within the area. All participants are volunteers hailing from various communities around the Stillwater area.

“I call it my little family,” Colarusso said.

Once they banded together and acquired proper attire, “We started sharing what we learned with everybody that came around,” Colarusso said.

The group now regularly re-enacts daily life during the French and Indian War as well as the American Revolution. A big draw for many who enjoy re-enacting is the experience of using of the arms of the era, like muskets and cannons. To enable that, Colarusso has taught gun safety for 45 years.

In celebration of Independence Day, the group participated in a special event over the holiday weekend at the Stillwater Blockhouse, located at 692 Hudson Ave. in the village. The patriotic event was kicked off with a reading of the Declaration of Independence that included a bit that is typically left out. The additional segment told what happened to the men that signed the significant paper.

“They were hunted down like dogs,” Colarusso said, detailing how the British came after the American representatives who dared to break away from the British government’s rule. “They lost everything.”

Colarusso is intent on righting the wrongs of history as it’s sometimes misportrayed. While Saratoga Battlefield was where everything came to a head, Colarusso finds importance in telling from where the militia came.

“There were over 2,000 men that fought in that battle,” he said. “They were farmers, people who live around here. They came from Waterford and Halfmoon. They all belonged to that 13th Regiment.”

While the Blockhouse that stands along the river in Stillwater today is a replica, Colarusso knows it inside and out, and loves to tell of how it offered safety during wartime. Inside, a museum with a collection of photos, documents and memorabilia shows the town’s past, but Colarusso can detail it, as if he experienced the fight for freedom firsthand.

On why he spends his hours and days volunteering, “It’s a lot of fun sharing history, especially with the kids,” Colarusso said. “If you make learning fun, they’ll learn a whole lot quicker.”

The Blockhouse, operated by the non-profit Blockhouse Committee and volunteers, is open from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend. Hours of operation are from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday or by appointment for special group tours.

Another reenactment event will be held at the Blockhouse in September to coincide with Stillwater Heritage Days.